GB2432052A

GB2432052A - Electric switch

Info

Publication number: GB2432052A
Application number: GB0600835A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shin-Yi Fan; Mei-Chuan Chou
Original assignee: Forward Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Forward Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-01
Filing date: 2006-01-14
Publication date: 2007-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-14
Also published as: TWI271762B; GB2432052B; DE102006001662B3; GB0600835D0; TW200719368A

Abstract

An electric switch is disclosed to include a base, a top cover covered on the base to cover a electric conductive spring plate and a light source holder with a light source in the base, an encoder mounted in the top cover, and a transmissive insulative plunger inserted through the top cover and the encoder and stopped against at the electric conductive spring plate for operation by a user to force the electric conductive spring plate for operation by a user to force the electric conductive spring plate to electric switch on/off the electric switch.

Description

ELECTRiC SWITCH cKQROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electric switch and more particularly, to an electric switch suitable for use in a stereo system, sound mixing engineering equipment, video system, and etc.

2. Description of Related Art

In an electronic product, such as stereo system, sound mixing engineering equipment, video system, etc., an electric switch with an insulative plunger may be used for operation by the user to switch onloff the circuit.

An electric switch for this purpose may be added with an encoder so that the electric switch has circuit Switching and encoding functions.

However, when wishing to operate the insulative plunger of the electric switch of a home or theater video system during the dark, an external light is needed to guide the way.

Conventionally, a light Source, for example, a LED (light emitting diode) may be installed in the circuit board of the electronic product to produce light. However, the installation of the LED must match the position of the electric switch, i.e., the installation of the LED in the circuit board must consider the available space height and transmission of light.

Further, when installing a LED in the circuit board of the electronic product requires an addition soldering procedure. This soldering procedure greatly complicates the manufacturing time and cost.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electric switch that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

UMMARy OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to the present invention, the electric switch is comprised of a base, an electric conductive spring plate, a light source holder, a top cover, an encoder, and a transmissjve insulative plunger.

The base has a recessed top open chamber, which has a bottom surface, a center terminal fastened to the center of the bottom surface of the recessed top open chamber, and a left-side terminal and a right-side terminal provided at two Opposite lateral sides inside the recessed top open chamber respectively. The center terminal, the left-side terminal and the right-side terminal are separately extending to the outside of the base.

The electric conductive spring plate is mounted on the bottom surface of the recessed top open chamber of the base, and spaced above the center terminal at a distance; The light source holder is mounted in the recessed top open chamber of the base and supported on the electric conductive spring plate, and carries a light source. The light source has a left lead-out terminal and a right lead-out terminal respectively electrically connected to the left-side terminal and the right-side terminal in the base.

The top cover is covered on the base to Cover the light source holder and the electric conductive spring plate inside the recessed top open chamber of the base, having a top recess and a center opening vertically cut through the top recess in communjcajo with the recessed top open chamber of the base.

The encoder is mounted in the top recess of the top cover, having a center through hole in communication with the center opening of the top Cover and the recessed top open chamber of the base.

The transmissjve insulative plunger is inserted through the center through hole of the encoder and the center Opening of the top cover and stopped against at the light source holder.

When pressed the transmissjve insulative plunger, the light source holder is moved downwards to curve the electric conductive spring plate and to further force the electric conductive spring plate into contact with the center terminal, thereby electric switching on the electric switch.

Further, because the light source and the encoder form a part of the electric switch, the installation of the light source and the encoder in the electric switch does not cause any problem about the height of the electric switch or the intensity of light of the light source. In general, the electric switch of the present invention provides the combination functions of a light source, a circuit electric switch and an encoder. This simple design of electric switch is easy and inexpensive to manufacture

RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is an exploded view of an electric switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the electric switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the action of the electric switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an electric switch according to a second embodiment of the preset invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRjD EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG 1, an electric switch in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a base 1, an electric conductive spring plate 2, a light source holder 6, a top cover 3, an encoder 4, a locating frame 7, and a transmissive insulative plunger 5.

Referring to FIG 2 and FIG 1 again, the base 1 has a recessed top open chamber 11, a center terminal 13 fastened to the center of the bottom surface 10 of the recessed top open chamber 11, a left-side terminal 12 provided at the left side inside the recessed top open chamber 11, and a right-side terminal 14 provided at the right side inside the recessed top open chamber 11. The terminals 12-14 are separately extending to the outside of the base 1 for connection to a power source (not shown).

Further, the electric conductive spring plate 2 is a rounded convex spring plate mounted on the bottom surface 10 of the base 1 inside the recessed top open chamber 11 and suspending above the center terminal 13 at a distance d. The light source holder 6 is mounted in the recessed top open chamber 11 of the base 1 and supported on the electric conductive spring plate 2, carrying a light source 61. The light source 61 has a left lead-out terminal 62 and a right lead-out terminal 63 respectively electrically connected to the left-side terminal 12 and the right-side terminal 14 in the base 1.

Further, the top cover 3 is covered on the base 1 to cover the light source holder 6 and the electric conductive spring plate 2 inside the recessed top open chamber 11 of the base 1, having a top recess 31 and a center opening 311 vertically cut through the center of the top recess 31 in communication between the space above the top cover 3 and the recessed top open chamber 11. The encoder 4 is mounted in the top recess 31 of the top cover 3, having a center through hole 41 in communication with the center opening 311 of the top cover 3 and the recessed top open chamber 11 of the base 1.

Further, the locating frame 7 is covered on the base 1 to cover the encoder 4, the top cover 3, the light source holder 6 and the electric conductive spring plate 2, having a center through hole 71. The transmissiye insulative plungers is inserted through the center through hole 71 of the locating frame 7, the center through hole 41 of the encoder 4 and the center opening 311 of the top cover 3 and stopped against at the light source holder 6.

According to this embodiment, the transmissiye insulatjve plunger 5 is a solid shaft that admits light, having two legs 51 stopped against at the light source holder 6. The base 1 has a plurality of vertical mounting grooves 15 spaced around the periphery thereof. The locating frame 7 has a plurality of bottom mounting spring hooks 73 respectively fastened to the vertical mounting grooves 15 of the base 1. By means of fastening the bottom mounting spring hooks 73 to the vertical mounting grooves 15 of the base 1, the locating frame 7 is positively covered on the top cover 3 and the base 1. Further, a plate spring member 72 is sandwiched between the locating frame 7 and the encoder 4.

Referring to FIG 3 and FIG 1 and FIG. 2 again, when pressed the transmissjve insulative plunger 5, the light source holder 6 is moved downwards to curve the electric conductive spring plate 2 and to further force the electric conductive spring plate 2 into contact with the center terminal 13, thereby electric switching on the electric switch.

On the contrary, when released the pressure from the transniissjve insulatjve plunger 5, the electric conductive spring plate 2 immediately returns to the former shape due to the effect of the springy material property and moves away from the center terminal 13, thereby electric switching off the electric switch.

During movement of the transmissjye insulative plunger 5, the left lead-out terminal 62 and right lead-out terminal 63 of the light source 61 are kept electrically connected to the left-side terminal 12 and the right-side terminal 14 in the base 1, thereby the light source 61 keeps giving off light through the transmissiye insulative plunger 5, and the operator can see the location of the transmissiye insulative plungers during the dark.

In the aforesaid structure, the light source 61 forms a part of the electric switch, therefore the installation of the light source 61 in the electric switch does not cause any problem about the height of the electric switch or the intensity of light. The electric switch of the present invention provides the combination functions of a light source, a circuit electric switch and an encoder. This design of electric switch has a simple structure that eliminates an additional soldering process.

FIG 4 is a sectional view of an electric switch according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with exception of the structure of the trarismissive insulative plunger. According to this embodiment, the transmissjve insulative plunger, referenced by 8, is a transmissive hollow shaft that admits light, and the light of the light source 81 can be also dissipated through the transmissive insulative plunger 8.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An electric switch comprising: a base, said base

having a recessed top open chamber, said recessed top open chamber having a bottom surface, a center terminal fastened to the center of the bottom surface of said recessed top open chamber, a left-side terminal and a right-side terminal provided at two opposite lateral sides inside said recessed top open chamber respectively, said center terminal and said left-side terminal and said right-side terminal being separately extending to the outside of said base; an electric conductive spring plate mounted on the bottom surface of the recessed top open chamber of said base and spaced above said center terminal at a distance; a light source holder mounted in the recessed top open chamber of said base and supported on said electric conductive spring plate, said light source holder carrying a light source, said light source having a left lead-out terminal and a right lead-out terminal respectively electrically connected to said left-side terminal and said right-side terminal in said base; a top cover covered on said base to cover said light source holder and said electric conductive spring plate inside the recessed top open chamber of said base, said top cover having a top recess and a center opening vertically cut through said top recess in communication with said recessed top open chamber of said base; an encoder mounted in the top recess of said top cover, said encoder having a center through hole in communication with the center opening of said top cover and the recessed top open chamber of said base; and a transmissive insulative plunger inserted through the center through hole of said encoder and the center opening of said top cover and stopped against at said light source holder.

2. The electric switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmissive insulative plunger has two bottom legs respectively stopped against at said light source holder.

3. The electric switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locating frame covered on said base to cover said electric conductive spring plate, said light source holder, said top cover, and said encoder, said locating frame having a center through hole for the passing of said transmissive insulative plunger.

4. The electric switch as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a plate spring member sandwiched between said locating frame and said encoder.

5. The electric switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said base has a plurality of mounting grooves spaced around the periphery thereof; said locating frame has a plurality of bottom mounting hooks respectively fastened to the mounting grooves of said base.

6. The electric switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric conductive spring plate is a rounded convex spring plate.

7. The electric switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmissive insulative plunger is formed of a solid shaft that admits light.

8. The electric switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmissjve insulative plunger is formed of a hollow shaft that admits light.

9. An electric switch substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.